Former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, is facing increasing political challenges just months after leaving the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
His troubles began after his ministerial nomination under President Bola Tinubu was stalled in 2023, reportedly due to a security report raised by the Department of State Services (DSS).
This event marked the beginning of his break with the president, whom he had strongly supported in the 2023 elections.
Following this fallout, El-Rufai announced his resignation from the APC on March 10, 2025, claiming a “misalignment between his values and the direction of the party.” He then joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and vowed to build a new opposition force ahead of the 2027 general elections.
But two months later, his plans appear to be falling apart. Despite several meetings and consultations, El-Rufai has not succeeded in convincing any major political figure in the North-West to join the SDP.
It is understood that the party currently has no visible structure in any of the North-West states — Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, or Zamfara. Sources revealed that he approached influential leaders, including sitting governors and lawmakers, without success.
“He reached out to key players, especially governors and senators, but none gave him a positive response,” a source disclosed. “Not even a state assembly member.”
In Kebbi State, El-Rufai reportedly contacted Senators Adamu Aliero, Yahaya Abdullahi, and Garba Maidoki, but they all rejected his offer and instead returned to the APC.
He also tried to convince the Governor of Nasarawa State to join the SDP, but the effort also failed. A source noted, “People simply don’t see the SDP led by El-Rufai as a viable alternative at this point.”
Nationally, the SDP has only two lawmakers — Senator Godiya Akwashiki and Hon. Abubakar Sarki Dahiru — making it a weak force ahead of 2027. Many politicians remain sceptical, partly due to the party’s historical link to President Tinubu, who once ran on its platform in the 1990s.
“There’s a general perception in the North that the SDP still carries the legacy of President Tinubu… It’s a hard sell for El-Rufai,” another insider explained.
In the South, El-Rufai’s chances are also slim, especially among Christian groups. His open support for the Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023 still draws criticism. “He’s seen as too polarising,” said Adamu Maiyama, an APC chieftain from Kebbi.
Amid growing frustrations, it is understood that El-Rufai recently met with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who urged him to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). El-Rufai reportedly declined and instead asked Atiku to join the SDP, saying the PDP is battling internal issues.
A political analyst summarised the dilemma: “He’s boxed in. Moving forward with the SDP feels like pushing a dead horse. But going back to the APC is another battle entirely.”